Patriots Update: Tebow and Wide Receiver Battles (Day 1)

With the first day of training camp at a close, let’s recap some notable moments from the New England Patriots’ camp.

Tebow gets some reps

I don’t see why Tebow is still such a big deal, as he only has the potential to be a utility player and (maybe) a third string quarterback. He did not impress when getting reps in the quarterback position, where he was slow on reads, made bad decisions, forced some throws. It is extremely unlikely that he will beat out Ryan Mallet, who was extremely sharp in reads and throws, for the No. 2 spot.

Belichick refused to confirm that Tebow would be limited to the quarterback position, which showed in the drills that he put Tebow in. Tebow participated in running back drills, wide receiver drills, tight end drills, and even defensive drills. Though he caught a few passes from Brady, it is still unclear whether Tebow will be a full-time quarterback for this season.

Wide Receivers participate

The top storyline here is that of the rookie receivers Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. Both were highly anticipated ever since the Patriots drafted them, and it is time that they show their skills. Josh Boyce ran reps and looked healthy after a foot injury sidelined him in the earlier portion of the offseason. Aaron Dobson was healthy, on the field, and present for a variety of drills as he is expected to take on the role of the “X” receiver this season.

Danny Amendola is already a lock on the roster as a slot receiver, and looked good in drills and plays with Brady. He had several impressive catches and spoke well of Brady during his interviews. It is extremely important to the Patriots that Amendola and Brady develop a strong chemistry so that the Patriots can implement the double option that they used with Wes Welker. They have already developed a somewhat strong rapport, but Amendola said “It’s going to be a while” before they are fully comfortable.

Other News

* Running back Brandon Bolden looked healthy and was on the field for reps.
* Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard split reps opposite Aqib Talib on defense.
* Tom Brady looked sharp as always in reps and showed little signs of tiredness or age.
* Leon Washington looked great in returning kickoffs, moving extremely well and showing great agility.

Though the first day has been hectic, we really can’t judge much from what has happened so far, as there is still much time for rearrangements. We’ll keep you posted as training camp continues.